Suddenly O‘Brien interrupted the young student and also spoke loud enough to be heard by those nearby, "You're right. We didn't have those things when I was young; so we invented them. What the hell are you doing for the next generation?"

*****

To Ireland:

Here's to the land of the shamrock so green,Here's to each lad and his darlin' colleen,Here's to the ones we love dearest and most.May God bless old Ireland, that's this Irishman's toast!

*****

To Luck:

If you’re enough lucky to be Irish...You’re lucky enough!

*****

Mrs. Fogarty was sitting on a sofa during the wake of her departed husband, Fogarty, to whom she had been married for 46 years.

Mrs. McGraw, one of her close neighbors, was trying to console Mrs. Fogarty by asking her, “46 years of marriage is remarkable my dear. You and Fogarty, himself, must have been very happy to stay together so long.”

To which Mrs. Fogarty replied, “For twenty three years my husband and I were the happiest people in the world. Then we met.”

*****

To Friendship:

May the lilt of Irish laughterlighten every load.May the mist of Irish magicshorten every road...And may all your friends rememberall the favors you are owed!

*****

An Irish Curse:

May the enemies of Ireland never meet a friend.

*****

Old man Gallagher is lying on his deathbed after a vigorous life of 89 years. Gathered around him are his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who are all saddened and teary-eyed at the nearing finale of Gallagher’s very long and productive life.

The weakened old man is in a deep coma, and old Doc O’Brien has said that the waiting should be over in less than twenty-four hours.

Suddenly, Gallagher opens his eyes, awakening from his coma, and remarks, "I must be in heaven already! I smell grandmother's potato cakes!"

"No, grandfather,” says young Sean, a grandson. “You are not in heaven yet. Grandmother is baking home made bread and potato cakes right now as we speak."

The dying Gallagher says, "Sean, could you please fulfill my last dying request. This will be the last time that I taste one of grandmother’s famously delicious potato cakes.”

“Would you please go down and get me just a small piece?" the old man asks with what is left of his rapidly declining breath.

Sean immediately dispatches young Michael, one of Gallagher’s great grandchildren, to fulfill the old man's last request.

After quite a long time, young Michael returns empty-handed.

"Did you bring me one last piece of your great grandmother's delicious potato cakes, Michael?" the dying old man asks.

"I'm very sorry great grandfather,” young Michael sheepishly replies. “But she says it's for the funeral."

*****

Our video today is the Irish tune "Lassie," and is sung by the Irish Tenors. If you have not seen the Tenors perform, you are in for a treat.